The biggest surprise related to the presentation of the new iPhone on September 7 was not only the palette of colors or new technical characteristics, but also the unprecedented appearance of a Romanian startup right on the Apple campus in Cupertino, California. . Flip.ro, a young company that buys, restores and sells phones like us, celebrated the relaunch of existing models with a promotion aimed at promoting greener habits when it comes to technology.

The most popular brand on the Flip.ro website is Apple itself, so the launch of the new iPhone model was the perfect opportunity for the Romanian startup to draw attention to the values ​​it stands for. During Apple’s much-anticipated annual event, Flip.ro spread messages in front of the American giant’s headquarters highlighting how affordable and, above all, environmentally friendly refurbished iPhones are. During the day of the presentation, a truck with LED screens drove around the California campus, welcoming Apple with the new release, attracting the attention of the audience with messages such as “We’re already celebrating the relaunch,” “This isn’t a launch. This is a reboot for older models” or “A model is just a number.”

At the same time, advertising screens in Times Square in New York also showed Flip.ro’s message to millions of passers-by in the American metropolis. “Celebrating the relaunch of old models at a better price”, “Older models. Smarter prices.” these are just some of the messages that Flip.ro used to encourage viewers to adopt a more sustainable attitude. The phones available on the website are refurbished and tested, so they reach consumers like new but at significantly lower prices. After all, the phone, like new, is even more affordable and more environmentally friendly: “We support the circular economy, so for us the launch of the new iPhone is the perfect time to encourage users to shop smart, considering that choosing an updated smartphone is more sustainable for both their wallets and the planet”– he declares the founders of Flip.ro are George Moroianu, Alin Luka and Alex Burgelia.

How did Flip.ro develop?

Flip.ro, a marketplace launched in 2019 by three young entrepreneurs, aims to promote the circular economy in a friendly manner with a public that is passionate about technology as well as environmentalism. The progress of the startup shows that the Romanian public is more and more attracted to this practice, reaching more than 100,000 customers to date, to whom they have sold more than 170,000 mobile phones. Compared to the first half of 2021, in the first half of 2022 they tripled their turnover.

Even if “numbers don’t matter” when it comes to new smartphone models, for Flip.ro the promotion of a greener lifestyle has brought them impressive numbers. The startup is growing after receiving over €8 million in investment from eMAG Ventures to boost its expansion plans. Recently, they also entered the Bulgarian market, planning to enter Hungary as well. The founders of Flip.ro expect an increase in turnover in the near future and aim to become leaders in the market of refurbished electronics in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Romanian startup corresponds to the global trends of sustainable development

In a context where more and more brands are making the transition to a more ecological production scheme, Flip.ro draws attention to the fact that the updated product is more friendly to the planet. The trend is gaining momentum: at the level of the European Union, there are discussions and debates about the so-called right to repair, according to which it should be easier not only for the public to repair their products, but also for manufacturers. responsibility for taking action in this regard.

The article is supported by Flip.ro